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FileVault is a revolutionary file protection program that allows you to lock out personal files on your hard drive with a password.

Features of FileVault 2.7:

· Stealth Mode:
Stealth mode is used by clicking the menu button, and clicking "stealth". You will receive an explanation of the feature, and then FileVault will disappear completely. Snoops will check out your system tray and CTRL-ALT-DELETE list and not find anything. To get FileVault back, press and hold MOUSE LEFT+MOUSE RIGHT+CTRL+SHIFT+F until the tray icon returns.

· File Shredder:
New in version 2.7, FileVault can wipe files from your hard drive using a method adhering to the U.S. Department of Defense standard. When you delete a file, it can be recovered, even if you emptied your recycling bin. By shredding a file, the file is turned to mush, and then deleted. Nobody will ever get their hands on it. The shredding programming was not written by me. See Credits. The shredder shreds only one file at a time, unless you use the suicide feature below.

· Suicide:
FileVault can optionally shred all of your protected files using the method described above if someone guesses your password incorrectly five times. This service is not turned on by default due to its destructive nature. If you have files that must not be stolen, and they are files you can afford to lose (or are backed up), you can use this service. Quite likely, a potential data thief would guess some passwords before attempting to hack past FileVault. Going on the assumption that they don't know that suicide is enabled, (there is no visual indicator) or in most cases, that the feature even exists, they will bang away at FileVault with some password guesses. After five incorrect attempts, FileVault uses a three-pass shred to destroy every file listed in your vault contents list. It is a good idea not to tell anyone about this feature, so that nobody will erase your files on purpose, and so a hacker will still guess some passwords before trying another method.

Don't worry: this feature must be activated. Until it is, this can't happen to your data. To turn on the suicide service, open the settings window, click the "vault settings" tab, and click the Activate button under "suicide". You will need to type a long sequence of numbers to verify your decision.

By default, FileVault's help file, fvault.chm, is read-only protected by FileVault. You'll see it in your vault contents list. It will NOT be erased by the suicide feature even if it is listed here. After suicide, the file will still be intact, but won't be protected by FileVault any more. Just remember: all other files in the list will be erased.

· Guest Mode:
Guest mode allows you to turn the computer over to somebody else, whom you wish to have access to your files. It is unsafe to just unlock FileVault completely, and sending it to the tray, because the user could open FileVault up, and change your password and settings, effectively locking you out of your own files and computer.

Instead, guest mode offers a solution. FileVault will free up all of your files, but will NOT free up FVPASSW.DAT, the configuration file. Also, it will disable the settings screen, all of the admin functions, and the stealth mode option. Now, your guest cannot edit your configuration file, or change it with FileVault�s settings screen.

To use guest mode, enter your password, click the menu button, go to Admin, and click on Guest Mode.

· Send To Tray:
This isn�t a special feature, but it should be explained. It sends FileVault down to a little icon near the clock.

After using FileVault, you will want to hide it again. To do this you can (1) click the yellow menu button and choose 'send to tray', (2) click the blue X button, or (3) press ESCAPE.

· Drag & Drop:
New in version 2.6, you can drag multiple file icons from another window into the vault contents list. FileVault will ask for for the protection method, and will automatically add all of the files to the list.

· System Lock:
New in version 2.6, you can lock the computer with a password. Turn off FileVault, click the menu button, choose Admin, and choose System Lock. FileVault will re-lock all of your files, disable all Windows key-combinations and clear the screen. Only when you type the FileVault password will your system be restored.

· Uninstaller:
If you�re crazy, or if you had problems with FileVault, you may wish to uninstall it. Rather than closing FileVault and braving it yourself, you can use the uninstallation assistant, included with FileVault. To use it, enter your password, click the menu button, go to Admin, and click on Uninstall FileVault. You will be presented with several steps to carry out. Click on each button and follow the instructions.

What's New in FileVault 2.7:

· FileVault can now be hidden from the task list.
· Enhanced stealth mode, requires users to press a key combination to show FileVault.
· Integrated file shredder. FileVault can wipe files from your hard drive using a method adhering to the U.S. Department of Defense standard. Deleting a file still allows for people to recover it: shredding it does not.
· Suicide service. FileVault can optionally destroy your data using the above method if someone is guessing your password incorrectly.
· Improved system tray support. FileVault won't disappear when you log off and back on. It won't flicker the tray either. These are both problems FileVault has had in the past with the tray icon. Now, when someone logs on, the iteration of FileVault called by WIN.INI reminds the other FileVault to refresh its icon.
· More security levels to choose from. There's now six, rather than four.
· Stronger security. FileVault now offers its highest level of security, "6", which offers reinforced DOS file control.
· A bug fix: FileVault doesn't crash if you open the settings screen before the splash screen has a chance to close.
· A new extended error handling system handles system errors and tampered settings smoothly, keeping protected files safe during the process. Critical errors that normally would cause FileVault to close and expose your files, now are errors that FileVault fixes automatically, or helps you fix yourself.
· Installation procedure is now even easier. Originally, you got the EXE and a "how-to" read-me. In later versions, you got a panel with buttons that opened notepad windows. Now, FileVault's installation is nearly fully automated. There's still one step you need to do manually, but you can skip over it if you want. In this version, you don't even need to restart your computer to finish the process.